A's fans grill Billy Beane about ever-changing roster at FanFest

OAKLAND — An estimated 25,000 A’s fans made their way to Jack London Square for FanFest on Saturday, and while there was the usual hope that precedes an upcoming baseball season, there was also frustration — the latter coming out during a Q&A with executive VP Billy Beane.

Lamenting the revenue-challenged club’s constant turnover with players, A’s fans grilled Beane about when they might feel comfortable about buying their favorite player’s jersey, without fear of the player possibly getting dealt just a couple of years later.

It’s the type of question Beane has dealt with for two decades — even in his own household, as he recalled the puzzled look on his wife’s face after he traded away both Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder following the 2004 season.

"It’s obviously the theme we’re trying to end here," Beane said. "What I can tell you is, it’s not something myself or (manager) Bobby (Melvin) likes.

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"It’s a situation where, unfortunately, we’ve had many players in and out. From a revenue standpoint, we’re trying to solve that. Hopefully at some point it’s not the case anymore. It’s less fun for me than it is for you, trust me. … I feel your pain, we’re trying to end that."

Beane’s hope for better revenue streams comes from the club’s everlasting quest for a new stadium. Despite prospects for the planned Peralta site near Laney College falling apart last month, A’s president Dave Kaval was as positive as ever when speaking to fans before Beane’s Q&A.

Kaval said the goal remains to open a privately financed stadium in Oakland by 2023, with the Howard Terminal, the Coliseum and Laney sites all still in play.Melvin understands if fans are skeptical when they hear promises of keeping players around long term. It’s something fans have been hearing each year, only to be disappointed midway through the season.

Last year’s letdown came when the club traded away a pair of fan favorites in ace pitcher Sonny Gray and closer Sean Doolittle.

"There always has been frustration,’’ Melvin said during his media session. "We want to keep people here, and hopefully that’s what the next narrative is going to be, going into a new ballpark with some revenue streams that will allow us to keep players.

"Billy doesn’t want to trade them, it just gets to a point where you have to, because we’re not going to be able to withstand it, payroll-wise."

Although the club is depleted of stars, the silver lining for Melvin comes in the haul Beane has been able to acquire for them. Holding what is widely regarded as one of top farm systems in baseball, Melvin couldn’t recall a more promising group of players either already in the majors or knocking on the door.

"Now you look at our system, not only do we have a younger group here at the big leagues that’s being impactful already, there’s a whole host of them in the minors coming, too," Melvin said. "This is probably the best our organization has been in going forward as far as high-profile players on the way."

Fitting the description of future "high-profile" players already on the roster are Matt Chapman and Matt Olson. Melvin is doing his best to temper his expectations of the corner infielders, neither of whom has yet to play a full season in the big leagues. But if the A’s are truly going to commit to keeping guys around for a long time, these two are expected to become cornerstones.

"Olson is a little bit quieter as far as leadership goes, but he’s got a nice presence about him,’’ Melvin said. "We had him in right field a couple of years ago, and I joked with him that it looked like he was smoking a cigarette out there. That’s how calm he looks when he plays.

"Chappie is a little bit of the opposite. A lot of emotion and certainly a lot of athleticism. He’s an excitable guy. They’re a little bit different in how they go about it, but we look for these guys to be leaders along the way."

Of course this could all just be smoke from Beane, and guys like Chapman and Olson could be gone by 2020. But as Beane, entering his 21st year in the front office, told one fan, there’s only so much more fan backlash he can take.

"Finding the talent, I think our staff has done a pretty good job on that,’’ Beane said. "Retaining it has been the problem. It’s not by choice.

"We’re trying to change that narrative. That’s why Dave (Kaval) is up here doing everything he can. I’m running out of time myself, so I’m with you. There’s only so many times I can let you guys yell at me every year for doing this."

How close is Puk?

A.J. Puk, the A’s 2016 first round pick who’s been dazzling the organization with his swing-and-miss stuff, will get a good look in spring training. While he may not make the Opening Day roster, Beane could easily see the 22-year-old lefty being called up at some point in 2018.

"It wouldn’t surprise me given his performance at double-A last year. He wasn’t good, he was great," Beane said. "When you pitch that well at that level, you’re just a phone call away. We would prefer that when they get here, they stay here. So you want to make sure he’s ready."